Vishvanatha Temple

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The Vishvanatha Temple (sometimes also Viswanath Temple ), dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva , is one of the three large temple buildings of the Chandella dynasty in the temple district of, recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site , alongside the Lakshmana Temple and the Kandariya Mahadeva Temple Khajuraho .

Vishvanatha Temple with Nandi Shrine (right) and Parvati Shrine (left)

history

Commissioned towards the end of the reign of King Dhanga (ruled approx. 950–1002), the temple was completed around the year 1000 or 1002 AD; a corresponding stone inscription is now placed inside the entrance porch ( mukhamandapa ).

architecture

Vishvanatha Temple

Section of the south facade of the temple
Sculptures at Vishvanatha Temple
Goddess Parvati in the side glow dedicated to her

The Vishvanatha Temple, which is almost mirror-symmetrical in its floor plan, forms a separate temple complex based on the ideal image of the panchayatana temple in Northern India, together with the Nandi Temple, which is located on the same platform ( jagati ), which is about 2 m high and formerly four smaller accompanying shrines . The main temple, which is again elevated, consists of several components staggered one behind the other but separated from one another by steps: mukhamandapa , mandapa , mahamandapa , antarala and the actual cult area, the light and unadorned Cella garbhagriha with a round lingam stone surrounded by a square shaped yoni . The sequence or hierarchy of the components can be distinguished on the outside by the height of the respective roof attachments ( shikharas ): These are either stepped ( vimana ) or have a slightly convex curvature; all of them end in an amalaka ring stone with a - partially disappeared - jug or vase attachment ( kalasha ). Typical of the temple buildings in northern India built in the 10th and 11th centuries are the sitting balconies ( jharokhas ) of the vestibules that are open to the outside and continue in the area around the cella. All components are richly structured inside and outside and both vertically and horizontally and clad with figures or abstract-vegetable forms.

Secondary temple

The Nandi shrine, covered by a stepped pyramid roof, houses a reclining figure of a bull, Shiva's mount ( vahana ). In the Parvati shrine, which has been restored several times and crowned by a small Shikhara tower roof, there is a life-size, exceptionally beautiful female figure, which is very likely to represent Shiva's wife Parvati . Another shrine between the main temple and the Nandi shrine is a new creation using some old stones. There is no trace of two other corner shrines.

sculpture

Like the other large temples of Khajuraho, the Vishvanatha temple is also richly decorated with figures carved out of the stone. These sometimes represent gods, but more often equally sized 'beautiful girls' ( surasundaris ) in seductively twisted poses or 'heavenly lovers' ( mithunas ) in more or less erotic positions and with male and female assistants. There is a narrow frieze of musicians at the base of the figure walls.

  • Figure-adorned portal of the light and unadorned cella ( garbhagriha )

  • Shiva- lingam and yoni on an articulated base

  • Erotic scene; including a frieze of musicians

  • Erotic scene

literature

Web links

Commons : Vishvanath Temple Khajuraho  - Collection of images, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Entry on the website of the UNESCO World Heritage Center ( English and French ).

Coordinates: 24 ° 51 ′ 12 ″  N , 79 ° 55 ′ 21 ″  E